by Steel Thunder
Having been betrayed by the Renegade Inquisitor Lord Aki, and also enduring a night of disturbing thoughts, dreams, and visions, Colonel Colwyn Dray of the 17th Cadian Recon division found himself making some hasty plans.
The disturbing visions involved some type of crystals or items of power. Dark forces, no doubt fiends of the warp and powers of Chaos were calling to the decorated war veteran. Col. Dray was the spearhead of his company from Cadia. The 17th had an impressive reputation for their bravery, loyalty, and capability of getting the job done. Col. Dray would not allow his men to be tainted by the dark call. Clearly the Inquisitor Lord Aki and his psyker “pet” Ghan had been under the influence of the dark forces at hand on Bein-Telu.
Col. Dray also knew that in his visions, that other forces including those of the rogue inquisitor had also been called to a critical location in the south. Col. Dray wanted to move quick and see to it that his men were there to not only capture the items in question, but also to ensure that they did not fall into the hands of any other corrupted or evil forces that had made land fall.
Communications had indicated five other factions involved in conflicts thus far on Bein-Telu. Aside from the Inquisitor’s garrison, Cadian intelligence indicated that two factions of Tau were involved in a conflict. Most interesting of this was that one unit bore Imperial markings. No doubt part of the “experimental” Ordos Xenos that some of the “newer” generals were trying to indoctrinate into the army. Col. Dray wasn’t sure what his take was on that. Sure beats trying to fight every forsaken race out in the stars.
Reports also indicated that another conflict occurred between a traitorous Space Marine legion that had done battle with a band of Adeptus Astartes warriors of the Salamanders chapter. Col. Dray was optimistic that perhaps his forces could reach the Salamanders and possibly unite their “loyal” forces and bring the Renegade Inquisitor Lord Aki to justice.
As it was, Colonel Dray assembled his strike team to roll out early in the morning. It was a brisk and cool day, frost was on the rocky ground and a light drift of snow flurries filled the sky. Forward scouts had indicated a clear road that went through a dilapidated city area, but roads would allow faster travel. Reports were that the area was abandoned. It sounded like the 17th’s best option, so Colonel Dray ordered his troops to prepare to move out.
As the Colonel arrived towards his transport, a Chimera Command unit, he walked around the vehicle. He saw something disturbing. One of the mechanics was painting a crude symbol upon the back of the vehicle. The Colonel silently watched the man work. He was painting an 8-pointed star, the symbol of chaos upon the hull of the vehicle.
The Colonel cleared his throat, and the startled man turned around quickly, his face turning beat red with embarrassment. Colonel Dray snapped at the man. “What is the meaning of this?!”
The man stammered. “…um….well, sir…..I know that you….were in a hurry……and well…..I had this dream, and….um…….if I could mark this thing sir,…..it may………help?”
Colonel Dray was furious. The Colonel heard the dark calls in the evening, in his sleep. The call of chaos had a dark tone to it, and he recalls the visions of the vehicles marked with the symbols of chaos moved faster in the dreams. Faster than any normal vehicles. What really disturbed the Colonel was that his men were apparently having the same visions he was.
Col. Dray barked at the man. “Have you marked any other vehicles like this yet?”
The man continued to stammer in the presence of the stoic officer. “Um, no……not yet sir….but if you like…..I can….”
The next sound heard was the click of steel as Col. Dray cocked his bolt pistol. The man looked up, realizing that the Colonel was about to execute him. He barely had time to turn, giving the Colonel a clear shot at his temple. The gun fired, the shot true, sprayed the back of the Chimera in blood and brain.
Colonel Dray’s two body guards arrived at the sound of the gun shot. They looked at the man, and then at the Chimera, and realized what had transpired. The Colonel looked at his two must trusted sergeants. “Have this mess cleaned up and make sure that no other vehicles are marked with this foul graffiti! I will not have it on my watch!”
The two men nodded and let out a unison “Yes sir!” and moved forth ensuring the vehicles were clear of any chaotic taint.
After a few last minute details were wrapped up, Col. Dray and his troops set forth in a convoy, taking a single column deployment and made their way South on Bein-Telu. At the lead was a Leman Russ Punisher commanded by Commander Torsk, a gifted gunner and tank commander. Commander Torsk was a graduate of the Knight-Commander Pask gunnery school back on Cadia. (Uses same stats as Knight Commander Pask).
Behind the Punisher tank and its massive Gatling gun was the Stormtrooper squad with Sgt. James "Jumpin’ Jim" Gavin. His squad was taking up a recon foot patrol covering the western flank. Two sentinel scout walkers covered the Eastern Flank.
Behind them was the Colonel’s Command Chimera and his command staff, including Commander Graves, a Naval Officer of the Fleet, who was in communications with an interdictor task force that was jamming signals and trying to provide cover electronic counter measures to help the Colonel complete his task. Lt. Barask was in the Valkyrie assault carrier with another veteran squad of troops, hoping to get a fast tansport, but also providing aerial reconnaissance for the Colonel. Backing up the last of the units, including the Colonel’s Chimera was another Leman Russ, this one a standard battle tank, but outfitted to the max with sponson guns, HK-missiles and each of the colonel’s vehicles had been upgraded with extra armor.
Chaos turn 1:
As the Colonel’s convoy moved forth, warning beacons flashed and coded communication relays came in from the interdictor vessel. It seemed as though the Chaotic traitorous Marines were setting up an ambush for the 17th Cadian group.
Everything started to erupt as the ground shook and bits of rock and dirt blasted upwards at random. Flashes of light, sparks, small eddies of swirling foliage and dust kicked up, forcing troops not in vehicles to duck down low and tighten their formations.
A traitorous dreadnaught appeared on the eastern flank. Ahead to the south, a rhino transport rumbled forth as well as a defiler dreadnought war machine also appeared. A detachment of silver armored marines also stepped forth from a small cluster of woods, pouring forth bolter fire towards the forces of the Cadian 17th.
Cadian 17th turn: 1
After the arrival of the Chaotic forces, the strange ground storm subsided momentarily.
Commander Torsk brought his Punisher tank forward with the main gun blazing away. Three of the Iron clad marines fell to the devastating gun volley. On the Eastern flank, the veterans of squad 17 moved up to gun down the dreadnought with their melta guns. They managed to glance the war walker, but as Col Dray’s command unit looked over, one of his men stepped up from the hatch and blazed away with hot plasma fire. The gunner was good. Arnold Shwartz; it was hard to find another man who could handle a phased-plasma rifle in a 40-watt range. Arnold’s aim was true and his crackling bolts of energy took out an actuator and gyro on the dreadnought’s left leg, immobilizing the possessed machine.
The Sentinel walkers poured fire into the rhino, and caused it to slow down and stop in its tracks, despite the smoke launchers being deployed.
Chaos Turn 2:
For the moment, it seemed that Commander Graves’s electronic warfare was working as reports came in that more enemy reinforcements were arriving, but they were trying to delay their arrival.
Unfortunately, a unit of Khorne Beserkers leaped out of the rhino and the crazed marines stormed the Punisher tank, throwing all manner of krak and frag grenades into the vehicle. Sadly, the managed to damage the Punisher’s main gun and also blew out one of its tracks, immobilizing the vehicle.
Cadian 17th: turn 2:
As the ground erupted again and Cadian forces were trying to make their way into cover from the hail storm of rocks and debris, Col. Dray ordered his men to keep moving forward and attack any enemies at will.
The pair of sentinel walkers moved froth through a ruined building and with mulit-laser and autocannon, they managed to wreck the Chaos Rhino tank. The Veterans of squad 17 continued forward and blasted the damaged dreadnought at point blank range with a trio of melta gun fire. The machine collapsed with holes bored through critical points and its lights snuffed out.
The stormtroopers kept moving forward though the rubble and brought their hot-shot lasguns to bear on the two remaining Iron Warriors, gunning them down.
Gunfire erupted from the back of the Cadian line as the Leman Russ Battletank threw a track moving into a building. Unable to move forward the tank let loose cannon shells from its main gun, immobilizing the defiler with gun fire and Hunter-Killer missiles.
All was going well, and then the fireworks went off.
Coming out of nowhere, a rogue commando, known as “Dutch”, who was on retainer by Col. Dray, showed up from one of the ruins. Clearly the man was hidden in an ambush of his own. He stepped forward with a demolition charge and threw it into the Khorne Beserkers, killing 9 out of the 10 troopers. The last one fell from combined fire from Col. Dray’s Chimera and crew aboard it. (Dutch uses the same stats as Guardsman Marbo).
Chaos turn 3:
With the reality being twisted again by the warp storm and explosions, Chaos reinforcements arrived. A Vindicator tank, another Rhino, and another defiler arrived onto the scene. The vindicator brought its main gun to bear on the stormtroopers, killing 3 of them.
The rhino rumbled forth, and combined fire from that vehicle managed in injure Dutch, but not take him out.
Iron Warriors appeared on the Western Flank, pouring bolter fire into the stormtroopers clambering over the ruined buildings.
Cadian 17th turn 3:
With the warp storm and ground eruptions causing problems, Col Dray ordered his men to keep moving forward. Most of the troops just kept running and shooting. The Valkyrie assault carrier hovered just behind the immobilized defiler and poured rockets from pods into it as well as a lascannon to the rear of the daemonic war engine.
Chaos turn 4:
As the newly arrived defiler on the east came into position, it jumped forth through rubble an wreckage and jumped into the fray with the sentinel walkers, engaging them in an assault. The small scout walkers were helpless, unable to bring their kicks up enough to damage the heavily armored Defiler.
Another squad of traitorous Iron Warriors marines showed up on the west flank, pouring fire into the stormtroopers, killing two more of their number. Gunfire from the rhino managed to scare off or kill the lone commando “Dutch” and he never appeared again on the battle field.
Cadian 17th, turn 4:
Cadian forces were taking heavy losses. They kept moving forward, hoping to find a way through the gauntlet the enemy had set up to capture or kill them within. Col. Dray urged his driver forward and ordered their smoke launchers deployed.
The Leman Russ battle tank in the rear of the formation, stuck in the rubble, continued to bark with its cannon, only glancing the armor of the defiler in the process.
Colonel Dray gave the order to Lt. Barask to proceed forward in the Valkyrie, and they made their departure from the battlefield.
Chaos turn 5:
Enemy forces were converging quickly upon Colonel Dray. The second rhino moved forth, and was also full of Khorne Beserkers. Despite impressive shooting from various battle cannons and the demolisher gun on the Vindicator, the Cadian troops made excellent use of cover. The smoke launchers on the command Chimera of Col. Dray managed to save it from destruction. The second Chaos Dreadnought arrived on the Western flank, near the stormtroopers.
The defiler engaged with the walkers was very efficient and crippled both walkers, taking them out of the fight.
Cadian 17th, turn 5:
Keeping troops moving forward, Col Dray raced Chimera forward but put his vehicle dangerously close to the enemy vindicator. Veterans of squad 17 moved up and saw their two sentinel walkers get knocked over. They led off their attacks with Melta guns, causing the machine to explode and managed to take out two of their number in the explosion.
The two surviving stormtroopes managed to damage the dreadnought by them with a plasma gun and a melta gun.
Chaos turn 6:
Desperately trying to contain the spreading forces of the 17th Cadan, the Chaos forces tried to pin the men down with tank fire. The Vindicator tank scored a direct hit onto the Chimera, but the shot bounced off harmlessly on the vehicles increased armor.
The surviving, immobilized Defiler let loose its battle cannon, but the shot was off, and the machine ended up targeting the command squad of Khorne Beserkers, taking out a number of the troops In the ensuing blast.
Cadian 17th, turn 6:
Time was running out for the Cadian 17th. Colonel Dray raced his chimera across woods and fields. Dozer blade cutting down stubborn trees, the Colonel made it to a safe location from which he could bypass the remaining chaos forces and make a run towards his goal. (Was within 6 inches of board edge).
The stormtroopers were alive but pinned down by combined fire from the marines and the dreadnought. Squad 17th took cover in a building as the Khorne troops were hammered by all manner of firepower the Cadians could muster, even from their damaged tanks. This left only the command enemy marine and one or two of his troopers with him.
Game ended on turn 6.
Valkyrie and veteran squad escaped board.
Col Dray and his command staff and chimera were within 6-12” of the table edge at end game.
Cadian 17th had 11 total units in this mission.
Col. Dray survived the engagement unharmed.
Enemy commander also survived battle.
Col. Dray and the 17th Cadian did NOT take any of the Chaos upgrades.
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